Card stripping and feeding device



ec. 14, 1948. F, J. ROUAN ET'AL CARD sTRIPPlNG AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2.5, 1946 Fys' Rs 45am/f ATM Dec. 14, 1948. F, J, ROUAN ET AL 2,456,449

CARD STRIPPING AND FEEDING DEVICE 4 sheets-sheet 2 v FiledNov. 25, 194e Dec. 14, 1948. F. J. RQ'UAN ET AL CARD STRIPPING AND FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fig ATTORNEY l l 1.!1 l N?.

Filed Nov. 25, 1946 ec. 14, 194s. F. J. RUAN ET AL 2,456,449

CARD STRI'PPING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheefc. 4

\ 45 /T/ L 5-@ 757.9 :1% 1 44 Z y C '4? 7\\ 7/ l 44674 4%/ /7 43 97 LL ATTORNEY Patented ec. 14, 1948 sur 2,456,449 cAnns'rinPriNG ANDFEEDING DEVICE Francis J.v Ronan, Stamford, andrFrederick W. Uthenwoldt, Glenbrook, Conn., assignors to Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delawarei Application November 23, 11946, Serial No. 711,890

` s claims. (ci. ,2n- 44.)

This invention relates to a device for use in effecting the intermittent stripping and feeding of the lowermost card from a stack of cards, and is particularly adapted for use with an inserting machine of the character disclosed in Thompson Patent No 2,384,506.

In said patent, a machine is provided Which utilizes a reciprocating ram for the purpose of entering a fold in the lowermost sheet of a stack of folded sheets and moving said folded sheet into the fold of the lowermost folded sheet of another stack of folded sheets, then advancing the two nested folded sheets into an open mouthed envelope.

In accordance with the present invention, the lowermost card of a stackrof cards is adapted to be partially stripped from the stack, then be picked up by, and rest upon the surface of the ram during the forward stroke thereof. The ram moves the card within the fold of the rst folded sheet, as the ram moves toward a discharge position. The use of a card feeding device with the above named inserting machine considerably in.- creases the utility of the machine.

The disclosure of the present invention therefore, includes part of the inserting machine of the above named patent, which, with features of this invention, provides a primary card stripping operationV during the feeding stroke of the ram, the card being moved to an inserting position. by the ram on the following forward stroke thereof.

It is the general object of theinvention therefore, to combine with a reciprocating card feed member, a card stripping device which will effect partial stripping of the lowermost card` from` a stack of superimposed cards while the card feed member moves forward to effect an inserting operation, and to effect the pick-up ofr thepartially stripped-card bythe card feeding member at the beginning of the following feeding stroke.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andv arrange-Y ment of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it. being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n;

Fig. l is a skeleton longitudinal sectional view through an inserting machine and includesaportion of the card stripping andfeeding mechanism 2 in. position at the beginning of a stripping and feeding operation.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. i with the card feeding mechanism in a discharge position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, looking at the card supporting and card stripping structure;

Fig. 4-is a longitudinal sectional View taken along theline 4 4 of Fig. 3, after a primary card stripping operation has been completed;

Fig. 5 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. 4, showing the pick-up and feed of the stripped card; f

Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 4, but showing a` primary card stripping operation; and

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 4.

In general, cards are stacked in a hopper over the ram at the location of its eXtreme rearward stroke. The cards are further arranged so that the rearward edge of the lowermost card rests upon a shelf positioned at a higher elevation than the forward edge thereof. While the ram moves forward, during a feeding operation, the lowermost card is stripped from the shelf by stripper mechanism and the rearward edge thereof is positioned in the path of card engaging membersv on the ram. On the following feeding motion of the ram, the card engaging members engage the rearward edge of the stripped card and feed same to a, discharge position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the inserting machine comprises a casing iii having a longitudinal central opening II through the top thereof topermit free reciprocating motion of a ram I 2, in aY manner shown and described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2.384.506. In this disclosure only those parts of the inserting machine are shown which are associated with the present invention.

Within. the casing, a belt it is supported upon pulleys Id--I 4which pulleys are suitably mounted on` shafts Iii-I5, carried by brackets I-I6. A drive is provided for one of the pulleys in the manner disclosed in the aforesaid patent.

The ram I 2 includes a blade Il mounted on the top-of a slidable block i8, which block has sidewardly disposed tongues I9--i t adapted to slide in grooves 2li-20 provided within the inner side walls 2 I--2I forming the opening I I.

.A yoke member 22 depends downwardly from the slidable block I8 and has a vertically disposed opening 23within which a roller 2li extends. The roller 2i!l ismounted ona bracket 25, which bracket is secured to the outer surface of the belt I3.

Upon rotation of the pulleys in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed from Figs. l and 2, the upper reach of the belt will move in the direction of the arrow and carry therewith the bracket 25 with its roller 24, which in turn will effect movement of the yoke 22 in a forwardly direction. The drive is reversed when the belt moves the bracket 25 about the forwardly positioned pulley at the discharge end of the machine.

At one lower corner of the yoke 22, another roller 26 is mounted on a pin 21, which roller is positioned in an operative relation with the upper edge of a track 28 extending substantially the length of the machine.` Said track 28 is suitably supported at one end upon a rod 29 and at the other upon a pin 3|. 'Ihe rod 29 is suspended between a pair of levers 32-32, pivotally mounted on studs 33-33. The studs are supported in bearings 34-34 suspended from the top of the casing lil. The pin 3| is fixed to the end of a lever 35, which lever is pivotally supported on a stud 35, mounted in a bracket 31. Said bracket 31 is mounted on the inner forward wall at the discharge end of the casing I0. The lever 35 is normally urged upward by means of a spring 38.

A card supporting hopper 39 is mounted above the ram l2 at the extreme rearward position thereof. Said hopper comprises front and rear walls 4| and 42, and includes sidewardly ldisposed wali portions 43-43 and 44-44 respectively with supporting feet 45-45 and 46-46. Said feet 45-45 and 46-46 are secured to raised base members 41-41, which members extend within the sidewardly bent portions 43-43 to provide a seat for the forwardly disposed end of the lowermost card of a stack of cards, contained within the walls 4| and 42 of the hopper 39. A shelf 48, extending inwardly from the rearward wall 42, is positioned at a higher level than the surface of the base members 41-41, thereby elevating the rearward end of the lowermost card relative to the forward end thereof. A card supporting finger 40, Fig. 6, fixed to the wall 42, extends beneath the lowermost card, midway between the sides thereof, with its top surface in alignment with the top surface of the ram. By means of said finger, a ilat surface is maintained across the lowermost card.

Card feeding lingers 49-49l project above the ram 2 and include downwardly disposed portions which extend through openings |5| in said ram and are secured to the ram supporting block I8 by screws 52-52. The upper projecting ends of the card feed fingers 49-49 extend forwardly to provide hook-like portions for gripping the rearward end of the pre-stripped card. To permit said fingers 49--49 to pass beneath the stripped card on. the return stroke of the ram, an inclined lug may be provided for each finger as indicated at 49a-49a.

Stripping means is provided for the purpose of stripping the lowermost card from the shelf 48 and depositing same on the surface of the base members 41-41. Said stripping means comprises a pair of rotatable discs 53-53 positioned at a predetermined distance a part within the side edges of the lowermost card. Inasmuch as the two discs and the driving mechanism therefor are the same, only one will be described.

As best seen in Fig. 7, stripper disc 53 is rotatively mounted upon a stub shaft 54, the disc having a hub 5D, to which a detent wheel 69 is iixed. The shaft 54 is fixed within a bracket provided by a downwardly extending wing 55 formed on the base member 41. Said disc 53 is also provided with four serrated or toothed portions 55, the teeth of which are preferably. pointed to adapt same to effect slight pentration of the card during engagement therewith, and to thereby provide eiective stripping of the lowermost card from the shelf `48. A gear segment 51 is secured to a ratchet wheel 58, and the unit is freely rotatable about the stub shaft 54.

The gear segment 51 is adapted to be driven by means of a toothed segment 59, formed on the end of an arm 6|, which arm forms a part of the lever 32 and is adapted to be rocked therewith during the forward stroke of the ram, when the roller 26, on the yoke 22, moves along the track 28, and causes said track to be depressed from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The latter action causes the lever 32 to rock in a clockwise direction, thus moving segment 59 upwardly, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and eecting rotation of the gear segment 51 in a counter-clockwise direction. Rotation oi the gear segment 51 eifects rotation of the ratchet wheel 58, the teeth 58a of which engage a pawl 62 carried by the disc 53. During each upward driving motion of the toothed segment 59, the ratchet wheel 58 is driven and one of the teeth 58a. will engage the pawl 62 to eifect rotation of the disc 53 a quarter revolution. To maintain the disc 53 in an adjusted position and permit the return of the segment 59, a detent pawl is provided, as indicated at 65, which engages a notch 63 in the detent wheel `lill, as shown in Fig. 4.

Means is provided to prevent more than one card from advancing either during a primary stripping operation or during a feeding operation. Said means comprises a pair of frictional obstruction members 68--68 which are positioned in the path of the forward ends of the lowermost cards. Inasmuch as said obstruction members are alike, only one will be described.

The frictional member 68, such as rubber for example, is mounted within a holder 69, which holder is pivotally mounted at 1| on a bracket 12. The bracket 12 is mounted on the forward hopper wall 4l and has an extension 13 overhanging the holder 69. Within said extension is a screw 14, which is adapted to be adjusted so 'that the lower end thereof will be positioned at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the holder E9. A spring 15 is mounted over the lower projecting end of said screw, between the upper surface of said holder and the lower surface of a lock nut 16. By means of said spring, pressure is applied to the holder B9 to urge the frictional obstruction member 63 downwardly against the surface of the base member 41. Upward movement of .the holder 69 is restricted to a distance provided by the position of the end of the screw 14.

In the operation of the device, cards C are stacked in the hopper 39, preferably lling the hopper. chine, as noted in the aforesaid patent, are stacked with folded sheets, and one hopper at the discharge end of the machine will contain the envelopes which are to be stuffed.

Assuming that the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the drive of the belt I3 in the direction of the arrow will move the bracket 22v to the left, as viewed from Fig. 1, and ad- The other hoppers of the inserting mavance the ram I2 forward through a feeding stroke. The roller 26 on the bracket 22 will move along the track 28 during said feeding stroke to depress said track and eiect rocking of the levers 35 and 32 in a clockwise direction. Rock-- ing of the levers 32 will cause the gear segments 555-59 to rock upwardly about the pivot studs 33-33 and rotate the serrated edged discs 53-53 a quarter revolution in a counter-clockwise direction.

As best shown in Fig. 6, rotation of the discs 53-53 will eifect engagement of the teeth 56-56 with the lowermost card to strip said card from the shelf 48. Thereupon, the rearward edge of the card is permitted to lie in the path of hook like members 11B- 69 projecting above the surface of the ram l1, which, during the following cycle of the ram, will engage the said rearward edge of the card and move the card therewith. The card will lie fiat on the surface of the ram while the ram moves in a forwardly direction and will be inserted within the open fold of a folded sheet S, Fig. 1, or the ram may move directly into an open mouthed envelope if no folded sheets are in the path thereof. The stuffed envelope is removed after the ram has completed the forward stroke thereof in a manner disclosed in the aforesaid patent.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a device for stripping and feeding the lowermost card from a stack of superimposed cards and comprising, a member having a card engaging portion and adapted to feed a card from a pick-up position to a discharge position, intermittently rotatable stripper means having a frictional portion engageable with the lower surface of the lowermost card to move said card from the stack to the pick-up position, a reciprocating drive for said member, and means associated with said reciprocating drive and connected with the stripper means to actuate said stripper during the card feeding motion of the drive.

2. In a device for stripping and feeding a card from a stack of superimposed cards and comprising, reciprocating mechanism including a member having a card engaging portion and adapted to feed a card from a pick-up position to a discharge position, a rotative stripper frictionally engageable with one exposed face of a card to move said card from the stack to the pick-up position, and means controlled by said reciprocating mechanism to effect the stripping operation of the rotative stripper during the card feeding motion of the reciprocating mechanism.

3. In a device for stripping and feeding a card from a stack of superimposed cards and comprising, reciprocating mechanism including a member having a card engaging portion and adapted and adapted to feed a card from a pickup position to a discharge position, a rotative stripper frictonally engageable with one exposed face of a card to move said card from the stack to the pick-up position, a lever controlled gear drive connected with said rotative stripper, and means associated with the reciprocating mechanism to effect operation of the lever controlled portion of the gear drive and the consequent stripping of a card during the card feeding mo, tion of the reciprocating mechanism.

FRANCIS J. ROUAN. FREDERICK W. UTI-IENWOLDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,031,251 Dixon July 2, 1912 1,071,243 Kurkiewica Aug. 26, 1913 1,101,467 Morrison et al June 23, 1919 1,644,695 Sieg Oct. 11, 1927 

